Annual Salary
£18,000 to £37,000
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Chemical plant process operators control machinery that makes chemical products, like paints, cleaning fluids and cosmetics.
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends; on shifts
There will be
5.8% fewer Chemical plant process operator jobs in 2027.
On a typical day you could:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in an office, in a laboratory or at a manufacturing plant.
You can get into this job through:
You could take a college course, which would give you some of the skills and knowledge needed in the job, for example:
You'll usually need:
You could get into this job through an apprenticeship, for example:
These apprenticeships can take between 18 months and 3 years to complete.
You'll usually need:
You can apply directly for jobs. Some employers may ask for GCSEs in maths, English, IT and a science subject, or equivalent qualifications.
You may be asked to take a maths test along with other assessments, and pass a medical at the interview stage.
Previous experience in the manufacturing and processing industries would be an advantage.
A forklift truck certificate may be useful.
With experience, you could move into quality control, lab work, maintenance or shift management.
With further study, you could become a process technician.
You'll need: